Caring for People Living in Urban Shanty Towns

Location: Jakarta


Situation:

With more than 15 million households living below the poverty line, the socioeconomic situation in Indonesia remains fragile. Access to healthcare for those living in shanty towns or the isolated populations of many islands in the archipelago, continues to be difficult. Given the growth in the AIDS epidemic and the appearance of new epidemics as a result of the massive displacement of populations fleeing threatened areas, the presence of humanitarian organisations is needed now more than ever.

Activities:

MdM’s work helps the marginalised urban population of Jakarta.There are four areas to this work:
• Weekly medical consultations in four MdM clinics in shanty towns;
• Supporting the welfare activities of AULIA (local NGO partner);
• Setting up a referral system adapted to this population’s needs;
• Helping our local NGO partner with logistics, fundraising and management.

Outlook:

In 2007, MdM will expand its activities to six clinics and will focus on access to primary healthcare, particularly for women and children under five, in the shanty towns in north Jakarta. The objective is to strengthen the capacity of AULIA, our partner NGO, so that these health activities can be incorporated into its programmes.

Project start date: May 2005

End date: December 2008